Process for the treatment of fibers



. No Drawing. I

Patented Apr. 9, i929.

uulrrsn STATES ARTHUR MILLINGTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT OF FIBERS.

The present invention relates to an improved process for the treatment offibers contained in wood.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a means for utilizing Waste wood or timber for the purpose of producing a board which will contain hlghly efiicient insulating qualities as well as sound deadening qualities, which Wlll furthermore be strong and durable.

One of theimportant objects of the present invention is to provide a process for treating Wood fibers which are usually burned or otherwise wasted in the operations of producing lumber and other wood products as Well as utilizing the wood waste of the forest, usually remaining in the forest from timber and logging operations, such as tree limbs, stumps, partly deteriorated timber and et cetera. p

My improved process consists in first passing the wood waste which may consist of slabs, bark, edgings and saw dust etc., through chippers which operation reduces the mass to small chips or particles. After the same has passed through the chippers, the mass is-then passed through a screen of the correct thickness which operation removes all pieces not of the proper size. These are returned into a small re-chipper or shredder, for refinement after which they are again passed through the screen. No separation of the waste is required and this chipping and screening operation constitutes all of the necessary operation of the material. Therefore, my improved process in utilizing all of the bark contained upon the wood eliminates the usual devices and equipment necessary for removing the bark reducing materially the cost of both and material.

At the present time, it is necessary first to make a preparation of the wood Waste and remove all of the bark content before the material can be used.

The mass of sized chips are then conveyed to a storage bin ortank in preparation for the cooking operation which will now be described.

These chips are then placed into a rotary steel plate closed tank or digestor. Water is added to the same with a solution of salt and soda ash. The temperature of the mass is increased by steam, suflicient steam is added to boil or cook the same so that the mass or contents are softened, sufficient for the refining or sweating operation. It is to be noted that Application filed August 18, 1926. Serial No. 180,096.

this cooking or boiling operation is not performed for the purpose of separating as is the usual practice in the cooking of wood for pulp etc. but is done for the sole purpose of softening the wood for refining. Again in the usual method employed in the treatment of wood by cooking, sulphur and lime acids are used with a very high steam pressure and with the use of such acids, the digestors or cookers are lined with acid-proof brick or tile used in the manufacture of building and heat insulating boards which are used in building construction instead of lumber.

The wood having been properly cooked or boiled to produce a soft mass, the cooking tanks or digestors are emptied by gravity into a wash ng tank and by use of water all traces of the sa t and soda are removed. The mass is then conveyed or pumped through, a tube used for refining urposes such as resembles a hammered shredder which runs at a high rate of speed. This operation will reduce the cooked or boiled mass to a proper fineness without the usual loss in strength of the material.

Upon the completion of the refining of the mass, the same is then pumped to the formng machine storage tank ready for the form- 1ng machine. And any ordinary machine such as is used for the manufacture of several grades of paper or boards as is made by the paper machinery builders, consisting of a forming wire, press rolls, etc., is employed in combination with a standard flat drier for the removing the moisture from the sheet. A standard sheet cutting device is then employed for cutting the finished board into proper size sheets.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description that I have provided an improved process for the treatment of wood fiber wherein waste wood is utilized for the purpose of forming a building and insulating board which will possess the same strength as lumber and therefore can be used for building purposes in place of lumber.

Thus the production of an article of manare for the sole purposeufacture formed in accordance with the above process will reduce the costs of building op.- erations and will furthermore possess the necessary flexibility as well as insulating properties and also water proofing qualities.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a process of utilizing waste wood products inthe manufacture of building boards wherein thesame consists in first disintegrating the material then softening the same with a solution of salt and soda ash along with, water and steam under pressure, then refining the mass, and finally forming the mass into boards.

2. The rocess of utilizing waste wood roducts 1n the manufacture of buildingoards consisting in first disintegrating the material, secondly screening the material, then softening the mass by cooking in a solution of salt and soda ash, and next washingthe mass to remove the softening agents, then refining the mass, and then forming the material into boards.

3. A process of utilizing waste wood products in the manufacture of buildin boards, wherein the same consists in first disintegrating the material, secondly treatin the disintegrated material with Water, an a solution of salt and soda ash along with steam under pressure for softening the material, then washing the mass to remove the salt and soda ash, then refining the material, and then forming the material into boards.

In testimony whereof I afiix m signature ARTHUR E. MILL GTON. 

